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Pilar

Pilar C. French

ShareholderFinancial Institutions Litigation Team Co-Chair

Pilar French is a diligent and fearless advocate for her clients, representing clients in complex commercial litigation and counseling them on crisis management and emergency remedies. During her 20-year law practice, Pilar has litigated high-stakes matters for a variety of clients including software providers, retailers, manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and financial institutions.

In addition to having significant experience in defending against government enforcement actions, Pilar has extensive experience in matters involving the financial and banking industry and has received annual recognition for her work by The Best Lawyers in America© since 2013.

Pilar brings project management skills to complex consumer, real estate and government enforcement litigation and is a Lean Sigma Yellow Belt®.

Before joining Lane Powell in 1999, Pilar worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the Oregon Department of Justice. While there, she represented the state in national and local cases involving enforcement of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practice Act, Oregon’s Public Records Law, and matters concerning civil rights violations or claims of discrimination. Since leaving the Oregon Department of Justice, she has continued representing clients in these areas pro bono.

Experience

Rosenblum v. Oracle America Inc.
Representing Oracle America in a series of lawsuits in Oregon state and federal courts between Oracle and the state of Oregon arising out of Oregon’s attempts to create and manage a state health insurance exchange (HIX) under the Federal Affordable Care Act.
California Based National Lender Mortgage Litigation
Assisted a California based national lender in setting aside a $750,000 default judgment levied against it.
Henry G. Luken III v. Christensen Group Incorporated, et al.
Successfully resolved a complex commercial dispute on behalf of a ship building business investor.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell PC (1999-Present)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Member (2020-Present)
Talent Acquisition Committee, Co-Chair (2020-Present)
Advancement Committee
- Co-Chair (2019-2020)
- Member (2018-2020)

Oregon Department of Justice, Assistant Attorney General (1996-1999)

Areas of Practice: Unlawful trade practice enforcement, civil rights litigation and appellate advocacy

Community Involvement

COVID-19 Medical Habeas, Team Member (2020-2021)

Oregon League of Minority Voters, Board Member (2018-2019)

Oregon Women Lawyers, Member (2017 to Present)

Artichoke Community Music, Board Member (2015-2016)

Rock N' Roll Camp for Girls, Board Member (2007)

Portland Business Alliance

Member
Leadership Portland, Participant (Class of 2005)

American Inn of Court

Indianapolis Chapter (1995-1996)
Portland Chapter (1999-2005, 2017-2020)

Multnomah Bar Association

Member
CourtCare Advisory Board, Board Member (2004)

American Bar Association, Member

National Institute of Trial Lawyers, Trial Advocacy Course (2000)

Sellers of Travel Legislative Committee, Co-Chairperson (1997-1998)

Southeast Legal Clinic, Volunteer

Thought Leadership

April 27, 2020Publication
Will Congressional Amendments to the CARES Act Actually Help 'Mom and Pop' -Sized, and Women and Minority-Owned, Small Businesses?
COVID-19 Resource
April 23, 2020Publication
Potential Lender Liability Under the CARES Act
COVID-19 Resource
March 30, 2020Publication
Congress Also CARES About Self-Employed Individuals
COVID-19 Resource
March 28, 2020Publication
Why Everyone CARES About SBA Loans: Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Relief for ‘Small’ Businesses
COVID-19 Resource
March 23, 2020Publication
Small Businesses in Oregon and Washington May Be Eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loans Due to COVID-19
COVID-19 Resource
October 2019Publication
Residential Foreclosures (Judicial) (OR)
Westlaw Practice Note
Summer 2019Publication
Join the Jetsons: Make Technology Work for Your Legal Practice
American Bar Association’s The Woman Advocate
August 8, 2019Event / CLE
Bank Fraud and Other Litigation Trends
Oregon Banker’s Association | Salem, Oregon
December 11, 2018Event / CLE
Overcoming Adversity Through Community
Oregon Women Lawyers | Portland, Oregon
2018Event / CLE
Women In Leadership Symposium
National Diversity Council | Portland, Oregon
August 15, 2017News
Fifty-nine Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers® in America 2018
Awards & Honors
May 10, 2017Event / CLE
Rainmaking & Career Development Mentoring Circle
Oregon Women Lawyers
August 17, 2016News
Fifty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
Awards & Honors
August 17, 2015News
Forty-eight Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
Awards & Honors
October 22, 2014News
French and Poplawski Author Chapters in Oregon Statutory Time Limitations Legal Guide
August 18, 2014News
Fifty-One Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015
Awards & Honors
August 2014Publication
Residential Trust Deeds and Mortgages; Foreclosure
Oregon State Bar’s Oregon Statutory Time Limitations Guide
June 15, 2012Event / CLE
Foreclosure Mediation: Complying With SB 1552
Oregon Bankers Association | Salem, Oregon
2012Event / CLE
The Latest in Foreclosure and Foreclosure Mediation
Oregon State Bar | Portland, Oregon
2012Event / CLE
Handling a Foreclosure Case
Oregon State Bar | Portland, Oregon
2011Event / CLE
Enforcing Oregon’s Trust Deed Act
Multnomah Bar Association | Portland, Oregon

Practices & Industries

Commercial Litigation
Electronic Discovery, Technology & Strategy
Financial Institutions Litigation & Investigations

Education

Indiana University , J.D., 1996
- Received Top Papers in Environmental Law and Feminist Jurisprudence
- National Administrative Law Moot Court Competition, Finalist and Top Oralist (1995)
Northwestern University, B.A., with honors, 1992

Accreditation

Legal Lean Sigma® and Project Management Yellow Belt Certification

Admissions

Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court, Oregon
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Oregon
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Language

French

Honors

“Portland Lawyer of the Year,” Best Lawyers®, Banking and Finance Litigation (2022)

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